[Verse 1]
Carl's got a brand new haircut
Must have been the girl's first date
Baby blue front quarter panel
On his old dark green Chevrolet

[Verse 2]
Probably never make the pages
Of People magazine
But you oughta see them sick kids' faces
When he shows up on Christmas Eve
Dressed like old St. Nick
That missing tooth don't matter a bit
But there's a lot like him around in every town

[Pre-Chorus]
They're just family, friends, and neighbors
Doing what they've always done
Loving fathers, loving daughters
Loving mothers and loving sons

[Chorus]
They gather 'round ole glory
'Round the tables and the steeples
The beautiful people
The beautiful people
[Verse 3]
Debbie Jo, down at the diner
Sunny side up, burned the toast
Raisin' up two kids solo
Can't afford no fitness coach

[Verse 4]
She was going to California
The year her mama got sick
So she hung around to do what she could
Had the first one and that was it

[Brdige]
Then her mom passed on
But she still goes by the old folks home
Just to sit a while and bring a smile

[Pre-Chorus]
They're just family, friends, and neighbors
Doing what they've always done
Loving fathers, loving daughters
Loving mothers and loving sons

[Chorus]
They gather 'round ole glory
'Round the tables and the steeples
The beautiful people
The beautiful people
[Verse 5]
A wrinkled old man wearing medals
That he earned on, Beach
Saying goodbye to a grandson
Who was killed outside Tikrit

[Chorus]
They gather 'round ole glory
'Round the tables and the steeples
The beautiful people
The beautiful people

[Outro]
The beautiful people
Man, they're beautiful people, yeah